did. An' then the Cap'n sez he: 'I take possession o' this 'ere island

in the name o' the United States o' Ameriky, an' I christens of it Crawley Island. Everybody give three cheers!'

"An' we give the cheers, an' then stood by fur to h'ist crabs an' lobsters aboard. Werry good. Hiram Duck he gits over the side, an' found the leaks easy enough; 'cos w'y, where the water were a-runnin' in when we was in the sea it were a-runnin' out all right now. Howsumever, it didn't seem to be no partiklar good fur to calk up the leaks, 'cos we was hung up on them rocks putty nigh a quarter o' a mile from the water, an' there weren't no way fur to git the bark afloat. But Cap'n Tom Crawley he sez, sez he: 'Git the water out o' her and calk up the leaks fust. Then we'll see ef we can't contrive some contraption fur gittin' her afloat.' Hiram Duck, bein' ship's carpenter, perposed as how we should take her masts out o' her, an' make rollers out o' 'em fur to run her down to the water. But the Cap'n sez he, 'You 'ain't told us how to h'ist her out from atwixt these 'ere rocks yet.' So Hiram he shet up like a clam wot'd bin stepped on.

"Waal, we was hung up there onto that island about two weeks, durin' w'ich time we got all the damidge done by the gale properly repaired. Havin' done so, the Cap'n he gives us a day off fur rest. About three o'clock in the arternoon o' that werry same day, all on a suddent we heered a tremenjis rumblin' an' roarin' under the island.

"'All aboard, quick!' yells the Cap'n.

"We all tumbled aboard the barky, an' none too soon. No sooner'd we done it than that there bloomin' island jest up an' sank right out from under the wessel, an' there we was afloat agin tight an' sound, an' with a fair wind. An' Cap'n Tom Crawley sez he to me, sez he, 'Ef ye was to live a hundred year that wouldn't happen to ye agin.' An' sez I to he, sez I, 'Cap'n Tom Crawley, I ain't sure it would ef I was to live 200 year.' An' so we dropped the subjeck."

The golf course at the Hotchkiss School, Lakeville, is somewhat more extended than that at Lawrenceville, described in these columns last week. A glance at the map on the next page will show that it is also somewhat more complicated. The first hole, however, is a comparatively easy one for a good player, although the inexperienced golfer will find the swamp and the brook somewhat unpleasant obstacles.

The second hole has only one hazard--a brook near the teeing-ground, which ought to be cleared easily on the drive, since it is on a considerably lower level. The third hole requires a sure drive on account of the zigzag wooden fence which runs along almost parallel with the course on the left, and frequently proves an unpleasant hazard for the novice. The fourth hole is on the top of a knoll, and a drive that is either too hard or too short will drop the ball in a bad position.

Between the fourth and fifth holes rises a large rock, but this is not so bad an obstacle as might be supposed, and may be driven over by any one with a little experience at the game. On the sixth hole there is a deep ditch or excavation which was made by the removal of some sand, and the ball that drops into this pit will cause the player to spend a considerable number of strokes to get it out. The putting green for this hole is on the top of a rocky mountain, and is very hard of approach, for when a ball hits a rocky side of the elevation it bounds back to a good distance.

The seventh hole is an easy one, the only obstacle being a good-sized mound with a small ditch back of it. The most difficult hole on the whole course, however, is the eighth. One of the principal dangers is that of going over the fence to the left, and there is also the chance of going over the fence which lies to the right, as the hole itself lies in a small lane between the two, and consequently considerable skill is necessary to place the ball in the proper position.

The last hole is by no means an easy one, either, inasmuch as there are a fence at the start, a brook just this side of the green, and a swamp on the further side. There has been a great deal of interest displayed in golf at Hotchkiss during the past year, and a large number of the students have taken up the game with energy. Some good scores have been made over the course, and doubtless next spring there will be a tournament to settle the championship of the school.

Athletics seem to be taking a new lease of life in Chicago, and the high-school sportsmen are developing an unusually clean and healthy spirit, the greatest evidence of which is their determination to overcome all the obstacles that lie in their way, and to try to do the best they can with such advantages as they have. The schoolboys made an application to the authorities of the University of Chicago for the use of the college gymnasium, but as this has been refused, a number of the schools have had to look elsewhere for training quarters.

The Englewood athletes have announced philosophically that they will do as they did two years ago--that is, they will train out in the street if they cannot get any other place. This is made necessary because Englewood has no gymnasium or any room in the school that can be used as such. Hyde Park High-School has, without exception, the best school gymnasium in the West, and will therefore probably not feel the deprivation of being forbidden the university gymnasium so much as will some of the other schools.

The Hyde Park gymnasium is not by any means large, but it is well equipped and has an excellent running track. South Division H.-S. will have to follow Englewood's heroic example by resorting to the public streets for training quarters, and mighty lively training quarters will they have, for two of the streets bounding the block on which the school is located have street railways running through them, and tracks are about to be laid through the street on which the school-house faces. The pupils of the school have gotten up a petition, which has been sent to the High-School Board, begging that a new school-house, more favorably located, and with greater conveniences (including a gymnasium, of course) be provided for them.

In regard to the facilities that the high-school boys of Chicago have for athletics, it is to be noted that a great many students who have gone out from the South Division H.-S. to other schools have won distinction on the teams of the latter, whereas the South Division teams very seldom achieve any success in athletics. The general opinion, consequently, is that, owing to the lack of facilities and advantages offered to the students of South Division, the teams which represent the school are not nearly so good as they might be under other circumstances.

What prompted the high-schools to petition the authorities of the university for the use of the gymnasium this year was that last year the schoolboys were allowed to train there between the hours of two and four in the afternoon, and a large number of young athletes from Hyde Park, Englewood, South Division, Chicago Manual, and even from Lake View, took advantage of the opportunity of working there, and as a result the athletic teams the next spring were all of an unusually high standard.

The reason given by the University of Chicago for refusing the use of the gymnasium to the schools this year is that there was too much crowding on the track by the runners, and that the galleries were kept too full of spectators. This is a very good reason, of course; but it would seem, nevertheless, that if the gymnasium was given up to the schools entirely between the hours of two and four, it could make no difference to the college men how much the school athletes crowded one another on the track, nor how many of their fellows congregated in the galleries to watch them. I can readily understand, however, that if the gymnasium was not entirely given up to the high-school lads--if the college men intended to use the track and the floor at the same time--there would naturally be a good deal of crowding, and the vigorous methods of the younger athletes would probably prove annoying to those who considered that the youngsters were intruders.

In a matter of this kind there should be no half-way business--that is, if the boys are to have the use of the gymnasium, they should have the unrestricted use of it; and the college men should keep away during those hours. If, however, the college men honestly believe that there is not time enough for all the college athletes to train, and at the same time allow the schoolboys to use the floor for a certain period each day, they are fully justified in refusing the use of their gymnasium.

It is to be regretted, however, that some kind of an arrangement cannot be made for the boys, for the college men must remember that by developing the young athletes they are bringing up material that will eventually go into the university teams, and prove of the greatest value and usefulness to them.

The skating-races of the Long Island Association for the championship of the League have been postponed, and will now not be held until possibly the first or second week in March. They will be held in the Clermont Avenue Rink, Brooklyn and the events to be contested are 220-yard dash and one-mile and three-mile races.

At the Boston A.A. in-door meeting, a week ago Saturday, there was a number of interscholastic entries, and several of the schoolboys did good work. There was a 40-yard novice race, in the final heat of which was H. C. Jones, of Exeter. The final heat was so close that the judges were unable to decide upon the winner, and it was necessary to run it off again. On the last attempt Jones won. The time was slow--5 sec. In the tie heat the time had been 4-4/5 sec.

In the mile run, E. W. Mills of Chauncy Hall School, who ran such a beautiful mile at the Madison Square in-door games last year, was pitted against Hjertberg, Orton, and Kilpatrick. The schoolboy started off quickly, and for four laps he led the field, with Hjertberg a good second. The latter then hit up the pace, passed Mills, and was never headed. Kilpatrick passed Mills on the tenth lap, but it was not until the last lap that Orton managed to get ahead of the Chauncy Hall runner. The time was 4 min. 36-4/5 sec.

The hurdle race was won by J. J. Peters, of Andover, with E. Cole, of Hopkinson's, second. There is excellent material among the Boston schools this year, and the interscholastic games ought to be the occasion of some record-breaking.

The National Interscholastic Games, which were held at the Columbia Oval last June, were a success so far as they could be when one considers all the disadvantages that the managers had to contend against. That was the first year of the association's existence, and the officers naturally had a great deal more work to do than they ever will have again, and a great many questions to decide at short notice without any experience to assist them toward these decisions. Several of the present officers of the association were connected with the management of the games last year, and they consequently know of several things that must be avoided, and of many others that should be looked after.

It is none too early now to begin to make plans for these games. One of the difficulties last year was that there was hardly time enough to do all that should have been done to make the games a striking success. Another trouble was that so many of the games of the various interscholastic associations were scheduled for so late a date that the national games had to be postponed until June 20, in order not to conflict with the other contests. It seems to me that a good thing to do this year, and it ought to be done as soon as possible, would be for the executive committee of the National Association to meet and decide upon a conditional date for the national games.

The secretaries of all the interscholastic associations of the country, or of all those that will probably send teams to the national games, should be informed of this proposed date, and the request should be made to them that their own games be held at least a week previous to the national event. It is more than probable that every association would endeavor, if it were a possible thing, to concede this much to the National Association, and to hold their local games at a date that would not conflict with the general event.

In New York the interscholastic games are held early in the month of May. The Long Island League follows about a week later. But in Boston, as well as in Philadelphia and in the Maine Association, the spring games usually come in the first week in June. It is at just about that time that, it would seem to me, the National Association would wish to have the big games in New York. These contests, to be successful, should be scheduled so that they would not interfere with the college examinations, and also so that they would not come too early in the season for the contestants.

In order not to interfere with the examinations, they ought not to be held any later than the first week in June, for the young men who participate in the games will need two or three weeks at least after the meeting to devote entirely to their studies. In order to gain the good-will and obtain the support of the older heads, the managers should do all they can to arrange matters so that the games will not interfere with school-work. There is no reason why they should interfere with school-work if properly managed.

The objection has been made that the national games added one more occasion to the many that already take up the time of the schoolboy athletes. This is perhaps true for the present; but I doubt if next year or thereafter it would be the case, because as soon as the schools become convinced that the national games are to be the most important of the year so far as scholastic athletics are concerned, the games of the several interscholastic associations will take a secondary position, and the school games of the institutions making up the interscholastic associations will fall into a third stage of importance, and probably fall away entirely. In other words, instead of having a series of school games leading up to the interscholastic games of the several leagues in various parts of the country, the schoolboy athletes will look upon their interscholastic meeting as a sort of trial heat for the national games instead of, as they have heretofore, a final heat to decide the supremacy of their own association.

The mere fact that at the national games the best athletes of the great centres will be pitted against one another is sufficient to make that occasion the most interesting and, beyond any question, the most important of the year. I do not believe that there should be so many track-athletic meetings as there have been in the past; I mean that I think it is a poor plan to have scholastic meetings open to members of schools belonging to the Interscholastic League, for the result soon comes to be that each scholastic meeting is practically an interscholastic event, and this may easily be seen by looking at the list of entries at these various scholastic games.

The best plan is to have each league hold its meeting, pick the first two men for a team to represent that league at the national games, and then let the national games be the decisive contest in track athletics for the year.

"TRACK ATHLETICS IN DETAIL."--ILLUSTRATED.--8VO, CLOTH, ORNAMENTAL, $1.25.

THE GRADUATE.

* * * * *

A TRIBUTE.

Pa says his mother used to make The finest pies he ever see, But those my dear old mommie makes Are plenty good enough for me.

Indeed, I like 'em all so much, It wouldn't fill me with dismay If some big tyrant made me eat A dozen slices every day.

* * * * *

ONE OF LINCOLN'S KIND ACTS.

One summer morning, shortly after the close of the civil war, the not unusual sight in Washington of an old veteran hobbling along could have been seen on a shady path that led from the Executive Mansion to the War Office. The old man was in pain, and the pale sunken cheeks and vague far-away stare in his eyes betokened a short-lived existence. He halted a moment, and then slowly approached a tall gentleman who was walking thoughtfully along. "Good-morning, sir. I'm an old soldier, and would like to ask your advice."

The gentleman turned, and, smiling kindly, invited the poor old veteran to a seat under a shady tree. There he listened to the man's story of how he had fought for the Union, and was severely wounded, incapacitating him for other work in life, and begged directions how to apply for back pay due him and a pension, offering his papers for examination.

The gentleman looked over the papers, and then took out a card and wrote directions on it, also a few words to the Pension Bureau, desiring that speedy attention be given to the applicant, and handed it to him.

The old soldier looked at it, and, with tears in his eyes, thanked the tall gentleman, who, with a sad look, bade him good luck and hurried up the walk. Slowly the soldier read the card again, and then turned it over to read the name of the owner. More tears welled in his eyes when he knew whom he had addressed himself to, and his lips muttered: "I am glad I fought for him and the country, for he never forgets. God bless Abraham Lincoln!"

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In the next issue, published

Tuesday, February 23, 1897,

HARPER'S

ROUND TABLE

will begin a new serial story, to

be continued for twenty consecutive

weeks, entitled

THE

PAINTED

DESERT

BY

KIRK MUNROE

Author of "Snow-Shoes and

Sledges," "Rick Dale," etc.

_Five Cents a Copy_

_Two Dollars a Year_

* * * * *

Address

HARPER & BROTHERS

Publishers, New York

QUESTIONS FOR YOUNG MEN.

ON COURTESY TO WOMEN AND GIRLS.

Somebody once said that you could tell how civilized a nation was at any one time by learning how that nation treated its women at that particular period. You go to some of the towns in Europe to-day, and you find women doing the hard labor, drawing carts beside dogs, carrying bundles and heavy articles about. Go among savages in Africa, and you find women doing the hard labor of life, the men reserving for themselves the hunting, the loafing, and the fighting. As nations grow more civilized, the women become more the objects of care and solicitude, and in England and the United States to-day they are treated with an amount of forethought and attention never known before. And yet even in America to-day many a young man, who would instantly deny any charge of discourtesy to a lady, will do little things, half unconsciously, that are neither courteous nor becoming a gentleman.

This comment does not refer to such acts as taking off one's hat to every woman or girl one knows, nor to any of the ordinary acts of politeness. Such are understood in these days. It does refer, however, to slight matters that mark the man or boy who knows what good manners are, and who invariably bears himself well in the presence of others. Such a boy never speaks to a girl or woman, if she is standing, without rising himself. I saw at a large restaurant, a short time ago, a man approach three women and three men who were eating supper. No one of the three men knew the fourth personally, but as he approached and spoke to a friend among the women, all three arose, and remained standing until the new-comer was gone. It was not a mark of courtesy to the fourth man. It was a signification to the three ladies that for the time being the new arrival was allowed the privilege of speaking to any of them if they chose to invite it. That is merely an example of a small point, which, perhaps, was not necessary, but the action not only pleased the women, but certainly stamped the men as gentlemen.

Many a boy fails to rise from his chair when his mother enters the room, while he would get up at once if a stranger entered, and one would suppose that his mother, who is more to him than the rest of womankind put together, should, to say the least, have from him the same marks of courtesy as strangers. In fact, you can tell a boy's character pretty accurately by the way in which he treats his mother; for as a mother has probably done and will do more for her son than any other woman--with perhaps one exception--will ever do, so he ought, in return, to treat her as his most valuable possession. His courtesy, his chivalrous and knightly bearing towards her are never thrown away.

She sees it all, and thinks more of it than any one else, and he need never fear that his thoughtfulness is thrown away. Perhaps, occasionally, such conduct may to a certain extent go unnoticed by some other women, but by his mother never.

In the same way one's conduct to one's sister is a test of good breeding. Sisters are not mothers, by any means, but still they demand courtesy from their brothers. Perhaps a sister can be pretty hard to get on with at times, but nevertheless she is a woman, and she can do certain things without any fear of retaliation, because the nobility of the man in the boy is bound to respect the woman in his sister.

Let her tease and tantalize, but remember that the best way to cure her is to treat her so like a lady who could never descend to such methods that she will soon be forced to stop in order to live up to the character you have given her. Mothers come first, therefore, over all the world, and sisters next. Treat them as carefully, with as much thoughtfulness, as you do anything else in your life, and with even more care, and then we can discuss the rest of womankind.

* * * * *

LINCOLN AND THE POOR WIDOW.

The 12th of February, Abraham Lincoln's birthday, brings to our thoughts stronger than ever reminiscences of this noble man's life. Hundreds of books have recorded and will perpetuate his good deeds for centuries to come; but it is a pleasure to read now and then of some little act of kindness that will stand alone illustrating the breadth of this man's sympathies and the nobility of his character. During all that dreadful period when the civil war was ravaging the country Lincoln held the reins of the government, and although worn out with unceasing toil, he never neglected an opportunity to help those who suffered.

One day a poor woman, whose tears had worn furrows down her cheeks, gained an audience with Lincoln, and in a few words related the sad tale of her husband, who had fought in the Union army only to lose his life, and of her three boys who were then fighting. She requested the discharge of her eldest boy, that she might have some one to support her. Lincoln's heart responded to the appeal, and he replied, "Certainly, if you have given us all, and your prop has been taken away, you are justly entitled to one of your boys."

The poor woman went away light of heart, only to return later, tearfully begging the release of her second son. The discharge of the first son had come too late. He was killed before it reached him. Sadly Lincoln sat down and wrote the requisite order for the release of the second son, and rising, handed the paper to the afflicted woman, saying, "Now you have one and I have one of the two boys left; that is no more than right." Weeping with joy, the poor mother blessed Lincoln, and hurried out to send her precious order.

* * * * *

WILFRID'S WISH.

The wild fantastic snow-drifts Upon the orchard hill Look like a lot of billows Asleep and lying still.

I wish they'd take to rolling, And then, wind-buffeted, I'd be a jolly sailor Upon my scarlet sled.

R. K. M.

* * * * *

DISCOVERY OF COPPERPLATE ENGRAVING.

Every one has noticed on his visiting-card the extremely delicate lines of his name, and most every one knows that they are produced by printing from an engraved copperplate. Like many other things of use and beauty, this art of copperplate engraving was discovered through the merest accident, by the goldsmiths of Florence, in the fifteenth century. It is a historical fact, however, that, one day, an engraver on gold, wishing to take a proof of his work, made the usual sulphur cast, and then filled up the lines with lamp-black, thus enabling him to see exactly how his work looked. While occupied in doing this it occurred to him that possibly the same results could be obtained by filling up the original engraving with lamp-black instead of making an impression of it, and filling up that. Struck with the idea, he put it into practical use, and with a little damp paper succeeded in getting a fair impression from the engraving. The discovery was communicated to other workers in this art, and they hailed it with joy, as it saved all the arduous trouble of making sulphur casts, but they never saw the full value of the discovery, and consequently the art of plate-engraving lay for almost a century before its true import was discovered and brought out in all its great and beautiful results. To-day collectors of plate-engravings rave over the crude results of earlier times, and search the world for examples of these early masters to add to their collections. Many of these collections have been presented to museums, where they may be seen and appreciated by the people.

This Department is conducted in the interest of stamp and coin collectors, and the Editor will be pleased to answer any question on these subjects so far as possible. Correspondents should address Editor Stamp Department.

Almost every mail brings me a batch of inquiries as to which stamps are sure to advance in value in the near future, and asking advice as to buying up a quantity of certain stamps. To all such inquirers I would say that collecting stamps for pleasure and speculating in stamps for profit are entirely distinct things. HARPER'S ROUND TABLE is not concerned about speculators. They may make money or lose it, as the case may be, but collectors asking advice or information in the making up of an album are always welcome. Of course philatelists rejoice when they find that a stamp bought ten years ago for 25c. is now worth $25, and that a collection on which a $100 had been spent in ten years is now worth $1000. That is simply our common humanity. But the true philatelist rejoices less in the money value of his collection than in the fact that he possesses complete sets of certain countries, has beautiful copies, or unusual shades of common stamps, etc.

Thirty-five years ago collecting began in the U.S. Almost every boy had access to the family letters or those of some business house. The great ambition of every boy was to get more kinds than any other boy of his acquaintance could boast. Stamps had little value, and many a rare stamp has been traded for an absolutely worthless common stamp. For instance, the writer had literally hundreds of 18 kreuzer Würtembergs in strips of three, four, or five copies, and hundreds of Western Australia--sixpences and shillings. These were all exchanged for 20 or 25 centimes, French; 1d, 2d, 4d, and 6d, English; 1, 3, 6, and 9 kreuzer, German, etc.--an exchange of diamonds for pebbles, according to the present stamp standards. And yet I sometimes think we early collectors got a great deal more pleasure from our stamps than the present army of collectors. Even when we got to know that some stamps were scarcer than others the speculative element was not predominant.

G. A. HALL.--Any U.S. printed in two colors in which the centre is reversed is valuable.

R. WOSTOM.--The Danish coin is no longer current, and is worth bullion only. The 5c. piece can be bought for 10c.

R. S. CHASE.--You have not allowed time enough for your Japanese correspondent. It takes three and sometimes four months to exchange letters in ordinary course.

N. WELFARE.--The Samoan Express is a reprint. The post-card is worth face only.

E. KJAN.--See advertising columns for stamps or albums.

FRANCIS PAUL, 95 Nott Ave., Long Island City, wants to exchange U.S. unused stamps for foreign unused stamps.

N. G. VAN CISE.--The U.S. stamps are printed in sheets of 200 or 400, and are cut apart after printing. The guide lines are printed heavily to show where to cut.

G. W. B.--Many of the 1869 blue 3c. stamp can be found with very faint marks of grill, and some with none at all. The rare reprints are on a different paper, and are distinguished by paper only. The New Zealand revenue stamps can be used for postage, but I fancy very few high values are really used for that purpose. _Caveat emptor._

PHILATUS.

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_Just Published:_

SHORT STORIES OF ROMANTIC ADVENTURE

The Last Recruit of Clare's

Being Passages from the Memoirs of Anthony Dillon, Chevalier of St. Louis, and Late Colonel of Clare's Regiment in the Service of France. By S. R. KEIGHTLEY. Illustrated. Post 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.50.

The connecting link of interest in these short stories of romantic adventure is the personality of a certain Anthony Dillon, late of Lord Clare's famous regiment. Mr. Dillon is an Irishman and a soldier of fortune, and inclined to be garrulous and even magniloquent at times, but for all that he tells his stories well. His creator, Dr. Keightley, has already done good work in the field of historical fiction.

* * * * *

IN THE

Alaskan Gold-Mine Camps

* * * * *

By KIRK MUNROE

Snow-Shoes and Sledges

Illustrated. Post 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.25.

This story deals directly with life in the famous Camp Forty-Mile.

* * * * *

The Fur-Seal's Tooth

("Snow-Shoes and Sledges" is a sequel to this.) A Story of Alaskan Adventure. Illustrated. Post 8vo, Cloth, Ornamental, $1.25.

* * * * *

HARPER & BROTHERS, Publishers, New York

THE POLITE GHOST

Once there was a ghost--there were ghosts once--who thought to see the world of men, women, and animals of by-gone days.

Possessing the power of annihilating space, both of yards and years, this ghost called upon a weird thing, who said, after its surprise at being disturbed had partly passed:

"A feathered biped(1) I am known to be, But gifted with the power of English speech; Uttering again and many times again The saddest words within a mortal's reach. A grim dark thing of evil omen, I, Repeating evermore my doleful cry."

"Quite too grewsome even for me," said the ghost, as he entered a camp of Brabacons(2). The sentinel, surprised at the strange voice, asked, "Who goes there?" And the ghost, not being able to reply "friend," and too polite to lie, vanished, and soon knocked at the door of the Pope of Rome(3) who, tradition says, kicked the crown off a German emperor's head, to show his power to make and unmake kings. The door being opened, the ghost disappeared to call on the King of France(4) who once navigated the Ohio River on a flat-boat and gave his name as Smith.

"Too vulgar royalty for me," said the ghost to himself, too well bred to show his contempt. Turning to go he stubbed his toe--yes, this ghost had a real toe--he stubbed his great toe against something. Picking it up he found it to be the first book(5) to have its pages numbered. "That will do," he said, under his breath, "to give to the 'Sword Hunters'(6). It will be such a good joke on them, for it tells bigger lies than they can."

Cutting 'cross lots, the ghost next scared out of an old abandoned house a city of British India(7), and was so startled for the moment that he wished himself in the United States with the insect(8) that country people might carry to the barn when arriving home late at night. A wish being equal to a journey by sea and land, the ghost was presently in America. On the way, however, he passed over the sea(9) which, having two outlets to larger seas, its waters never flow out, but always in, and yet its surface is ever several feet lower than the larger waters west and southeast of it. He startled the "midnight judiciary"(10), begged the members' pardon, retired, and almost immediately crossed seas and met the woman(11) who furnished Sir Walter Scott with descriptions of Irish characters for one of his novels. He told her he wished to call next on the Queen of England(12) who saved her husband's life by sucking poison from a wound.

"You should take the 'X.Y.Z. letters'(13) with you as introduction," was the reply.

"Even so," said the ghost, "I might not be received."

"But you would had you the tact of the man(14) who compared himself, when he should be dead, to a book."

"Ah yes, but I have no country, being but a ghost. I am like the man(15) who once refused a sword from a Russian Czar. If now I were the man(16) who shut up Paraguay, making it a second Japan for twenty-five years!"

"Or the Pope of Rome(17) who was made a cardinal at the age of fourteen."

"Ay, or even the Confederate commander(18) at the siege of New Orleans in April, 1862."

Determining next to go to the smallest and oldest republic in the world(19), the ghost bade his fair companion adieu and started. Wearied with long travel, he sought conveyance. Finding himself on board a queer one, he asked an explanation, and was told this:

"A very mountain high and bright, In all the land I'm never seen; Formed of a substance liquid light, Yet hard and dealing death, I ween.

"Men view me with delight and awe If I a distance safe preserve. But my approach they flee before, Nor pause my beauty to observe."(20).

The ghost next tried the ship(21) that carried the Golden Fleece. This took him to lands where he mounted the seat beside the driver(22) of the chariot of the sun. This he did, not without first being invited. He was too well bred to presume.

But he had run his course, for even the outing of a polite ghost must end. The Revolutionary general(23) who was once tied to the stake by Indians, a fire started around him, and was then saved by a rainstorm, got hold of him, this polite ghost, and was not to be scared by him.

"Who are you?" demanded the general.

"The god(24) of fun," replied the truthful, polite, and mythological ghost.

"Heigho! Heigho!! Heigho!!!" shouted the general at the top of his lungs, and looking up to the sky.

"I'll go, I'll go," said the ghost, frightened at the voice, but relieved at sight of what came in answer to it.

"There! there's the porter of heaven who opens the door(25). Get you gone," thundered the general.

And the ghost went.

* * * * *

In this fanciful story are mentioned a lot of odd things--people by their nicknames, articles by their descriptive characteristics, etc. There are also some riddles. In sending answers, do not write out the story. Number answers as numbered here, write one below another in the proper order, and put your name and address at the top of your first sheet of answers. Mail answers not later than March 1, 1897, to HARPER'S ROUND TABLE, New York--no street number required--and put in the lower left-hand corner of your envelope "Puzzle Answer." Correct answers, with names of winners, will be published in HARPER'S ROUND TABLE as early after the close of the contest as possible, probably within about two weeks.

The prizes, which will be awarded by the Messrs. Harper & Brothers, Publishers, New York, are: $39, divided among the three or four best solvers according to merit. Persons of any age may help find the answers, but only those who have not passed their 18th birthday, and who are members of households in which this paper is regularly read, may send them in. Merit signifies correctness and neatness, and has no reference to the solution reaching the office of HARPER'S ROUND TABLE first in point of time. Elaborate decoration of answers is not encouraged. Use common stationery, note size, and do not roll. Write on one side of the paper only. Everything comes to those who--try!

* * * * *

Questions and Answers.

Lee Heilman asks the origin and use of "Yankee." It is from "Yangees," a corruption of "English," the name originally given by Massachusetts Indians to early colonists. It was applied solely to New Englanders by the British soldiers in the Revolutionary war; afterwards by foreigners to all citizens of the United States; and finally by Confederates of the South to all soldiers of the North during the civil war.--W. S. Goff asks the origin and meaning of the "O" in names like "O'Connor." It means "of," and came from names of places.--"What ship did William Penn come to America in?" asks a Knight living in Iowa. It was the _Welcome_. "Who came with him?" Ancestors of everybody now living in Philadelphia who is anybody. At least that is the impression one gets, so many good Quaker City folk laying claim to the honor for their ancestors. We regret having to say that in not one of some twenty cyclopedias at our hand is there mention of anybody on board the _Welcome_ save Penn himself. The list is given in Watson's _Annals of Philadelphia_. Will some reader in that city copy out the names and send them to Howard G. Van Cise, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. The Annals will be found in any Philadelphia library.

Stanley Slingerland, 58 Hope Street, Brooklyn, N. Y., is a Knight of eleven, and wants some Knight near his age to write him.--Marion H. V. Tompkins, La Salle, N. Y., wants high and private school yells. Will you send her yours?--Frank H. King, aged fourteen, desires a position on an amateur paper. It is as contributor, we suppose. We fear he will find few positions of any other sort. Amateur papers generally let one fellow, the owner, "do all the work and board himself."--Fred T. McNaughton: No drawing contests are in contemplation by the TABLE.--Rosa E. Hutchinson asks: "In writing to some one in a foreign country, asking for an autograph, should a stamp of that country be enclosed, or a United States stamp? If the former, where may it be obtained?" Enclose an American stamp. It will answer as well. If, however, you must have foreign stamps, buy them from the dealers whose advertisements you find in this paper. You can procure from them any stamps issued anywhere, and at no excess of cost. In answer to your two other questions address one care Scribner & Sons, New York, and the other simply Indianapolis.

Any questions in regard to photograph matters will be willingly answered by the Editor of this column, and we should be glad to hear from any of our club who can make helpful suggestions.

HOW TO FINISH LANTERN SLIDES.

For the benefit of those of our club who have never made lantern slides, we give the cost with the list of materials required. Lantern-slide plates, 55c. per box; mats, twenty-five for 25c.; wafers for marking corners, 10c. per box; cover glass, 60c. per box (two dozen in box); gummed binding strips, 20c. per hundred; printed labels for name and number, 20c. per hundred.

The mats usually come with the opening already cut, but one style of mat has the shape of different openings stamped on it in gilt lines, and may be cut along the lines of the opening best suited to the subject. Having the mat ready, place it over the slide on the film side, gumming it slightly at the corners to hold it in place, then in the lower left-hand corner of the slide as it lies film side up gum one of the round wafers. This wafer is always placed at the lower left-hand side of the lantern slide, and is a guide to the operator in putting the slide into the lantern. Dust the film with a fine camel's-hair brush or a piece of clean dry chamois, and place over it one of the cover glasses which has been previously cleaned and polished. These glasses are very thin and the edges sharp, and care must be taken in handling, or one is liable to get a severe cut. Some lantern-slide makers, in preparing a quantity of slides, finish each slide separately, while others mat the slides, then apply the wafers, then the cover glasses, and so on through the several operations necessary to the finishing of a slide. In the latter case it is better to gum the cover glasses at the corners just enough to hold them in place.

The next step is to bind the slide and cover glass together. Take one of the gummed strips--which are cut the exact length required for the slide--moisten it with a sponge, take the slide and cover in the right hand, lay the end of the strip on the table (keeping hold of it with the left hand), and put one of the corners of the slide near the end of the strip. Press down firmly on the strip so as to hold it in place, and bring the strip along the edge of the glass; then, without lifting the slide from the table, lower the side on which has been placed the strip, and carry the binder on to the next corner, and so round the plate. Turn the edges of the strip down on the plate, cutting away the extra thickness at the corners. If the strip becomes dry before the operation is finished, it can be moistened again. The gum on the strips is so very sticky that it will bear much rough usage and still hold the slide and cover glass together.

The last process is to apply the labels. These are pasted on the right-hand side of the slide, opposite the side on which is the wafer. The slide is now ready for name and number, which is written or printed on the label.

Many skilful amateurs make slides from their finest plates, thinking it one of the best ways of preserving their pictures, for if the original negative is broken, another can be made from the slide. Mr. E. L. Wilson has invented an apparatus for viewing lantern slides without the aid of a lantern. It consists of a large condensing lens fitted to a tube in one end of which is a frame for the slides. This apparatus has been given the name of touroscope.

HARRY MCLACHLIN asks for a treatment for over-exposed plates. As soon as the image flashes up, showing that the plate has been over-exposed, take it from the developer and place it in a tray of clean water to stop development. Turn the developer from the tray and rinse the tray. Mix up a weak solution of developer, or dilute this same developer with one-third water. Add to it a few drops of a solution of bromide of potassium prepared with 1/4 oz. of bromide to 5 oz. of water. This solution should be mixed ready for use and marked "Restrainer." The bromide is called a restrainer because it makes the development proceed more slowly. Put the plate back in the tray and turn over the weak developer. Rock the tray gently, and if the image still comes out too fast, add a few more drops of the bromide. Unless the plate has been very much over-exposed, one can get a good negative by this process.

HARRY MCLACHLIN, Whitehall, N.H.; H. A. KRETSCHMAR, West Nyack, N. Y.; LOUIS EARL SHERWOOD, North Ontario, Cal.; JOSEPH M. KIMBALL, 16 Montague St., Providence, R. I.--wish to become members of the Camera Club.

SIR KNIGHT HARRY CHASE, 175 Sumner St., Malden, Mass., wishes to get one or two pictures that have taken prizes in the ROUND TABLE contest. Will any member who has won a prize write to Sir Harry? He will pay for the pictures or exchange prints.

M. R. asks if the Comet Camera is a good one for beginners. The Comet is a nice little camera which takes very small pictures. It would be more satisfactory to buy a larger camera, and use glass plates.

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AN OVERRATED BOOK.

"Bosh!" cried Bobby. "What good is a dictionary? It only tells you the meaning of words you know about; but when a baby says 'goo-goo' and 'gah-gah' at you, and you wonder what he means, it doesn't help a bit."

* * * * *

NOT A BRIGHT PROSPECT.

"Well, Harry, I suppose you expect to be President of the United States some day."

"I'm afraid not," said Harry. "My party's all gone to pieces. Why, even I ain't in it any more."

* * * * *

VALENTINE BY PROXY.

In Ethel's palm the goat The valentine would place, But finding it so sweet, He swallowed it with grace.

When little Ethel saw Such rapture on him shine, She murmured, "I will be Ronaldo's Valentine."

And now Ronaldo's joy's On every breeze afloat, Since to her was his wish Translated by the goat.

R. K. M.

* * * * *

ONE WAY TO MAKE A RECORD.

"I got fifteen valentines," said Jackey--"one from pa, one from ma, one from Jennie, and two from Mollie Perkins."

"Where did the other ten come from?"

"Oh, I sent the other ten to myself."

* * * * *

At a political meeting in Kansas during the late campaign a free-silver speaker was orating upon the subject of the "masses" and the "classes," and finally exclaimed, "Is not one man as good as another in this free country of ours?"

A farmer in the audience cried out, "Sure, and a great deal better!"

* * * * *

NO NEED TO LEARN.

"I'm afraid you'll never know how to write, Tommie," said his teacher, sadly.

"Don't care," said Tommie. "Uncle Jim is going to send me a type-writer for my birthday."

* * * * *

A poor Irish woman took a copper kettle to a pawn-shop in order to secure some money.

"I should think you would not want to put this up," remarked the pawnbroker. "What will you cook your dinner in?"

"Sure it's to get money to buy meat with to put in it that I'm pawnin' the thing."

* * * * *

A New York police magistrate, who has made a reputation for irascibility, was scolding half a dozen hawkers and peddlers who had been arrested for standing about and encumbering the sidewalks. "We can't allow this," exclaimed the excitable magistrate. "If everybody stood in the street, how could anybody get by?"

* * * * *

IN THE TRAINED-MONKEYS' CAGE.

FIRST MONKEY. "You remember that boy who was teasing me yesterday? I caught him by the wrist and pretty nearly twisted his arm off."

SECOND MONKEY. "Yes; I heard him tell another boy he got hurt by a monkey-wrench."

* * * * *

The story is told that Daniel Webster, when on his way by stage-coach to Washington once, was looked upon with suspicion by his travelling companions. Finally one of the latter tapped him on the knee and said,

"How far are you going?"

"I am going to Washington," answered Webster.

"Are you a merchant?" continued the inquirer.

"No, I am a Senator," replied Webster.

"Well, well!" exclaimed the other, holding out his hand. "I am relieved. We feared you might be a highwayman."

* * * * *

Two Irishmen were repairing a well over on Long Island, when suddenly one of them missed his footing and fell to the bottom. The other, greatly excited, leaned over the edge and exclaimed,

"Denny! oh, Denny! are ye dead?"

No answer came. Then he called again,

"Denny, if you're dead, speak!"

Presently the fellow at the bottom replied,

"Sure I'm not quite dead, man, but I'm spachless!"

* * * * *

A HARD PROBLEM.

"What I can't understand," said Wilbur, "is why in winter, when it's cold and we'd like to keep warm, we've snowballs to play with; while in summer, when we'd give a million to be cool, they give us fireworks on the Fourth of July?"

* * * * *

COASTING AND COASTING.

"Come on coasting."

"Nope--too cold. I hate coasting in winter."

"Hoh! When else could you?"

"In summer, on board of a cat-boat."

* * * * *

A DISTINCTION.

"Dear me, Johnnie, what _have_ you been doing? You are all over ink."

"No, mamma," said Johnnie, "I ain't! The ink is all over me."

End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Round Table, February 16, 1897, by Various